Computers at libraries popular, despite mobile bookshelves Technological change often presents both a threat and an opportunity. On the retail side, Blockbuster was once a very popular neighborhood video rental store. Many of its locations have closed and the remaining locations are part of the Dish Network. Movie downloads via iTunes, Netflix, and other channels have made it much more convenient to rent movies from the comfort of your own home or on the go. A trip to Borders to find books, music, and movies is no longer possible since it shut its doors for good. One would think that non-profit and public institutions would suffer a similar fate, but in many cases, the opposite is proving true. While e-readers and tablets are very popular, the presence of internet access in public libraries is enabling millions of people to be connected regardless of financial circumstances. In the mid-1990's, only about three in ten libraries had internet access. Today it is nearly universal. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), about one-third of the American population age 14+ accessed the internet at a public library during the recent recession. The IMLS attributes this popularity to the unique role of libraries as a resource that can address both the computing and information needs of a community. According to the Pew Research Center, more than three-quarters of those surveyed consider web access very important. This importance was particularly high among among women, as well as in the Black and Hispanic population groups. Many individuals access job hunting, benefits, healthcare, financial, and other information this way. In fact, many libraries cannot keep up with the demand for access. While growing numbers of people are now accessing library tools with smartphones and tablets, it will be interesting to see if pricing of these devices has any impact on the use of public libraries. Overall, contrary to what one might have assumed in the digital age, libraries appear to be growing in importance rather than being in decline and the answer to a recent New York Times debate on whether we still need libraries would be a resounding YES.
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Blog Author - Ken FelsherWith over 25 years of writing, editing, and research experience. I enjoy sharing with my readers my love of working with content on a variety of subjects. CategoriesAll 9-11 Airline Apollo 11 Apple Baseball Black Friday Boston Cable Cambridge Ceo Cooperstown Cyber Monday Cyber-Monday Delta Derek Football Freedom Tower Hall Of Fame Harvard Hawaiian HBO Hulu Hurricane Sandy Ipad IPhone IWatch Jeter Marissa Mayer Megatrend MIT Mobile Netflix New-jersey One World Trade Center Personal Computer Qantas Schlep Factor September 11 Smartphone Social Media Tablet Twin Towers United World Trade Center Yahoo Yankees Archives
January 2016
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